Chêne Bleu, Aliot Blanc 2022

Chêne Bleu sits high in the Dentelles de Montmirail, above the Rhône Valley in Vaucluse, at an altitude that gives their wines a freshness you simply do not expect from this corner of southern France. Aliot Blanc is a blend led by Roussanne with Viognier and Grenache Blanc, vinified with real care to preserve the vineyard's natural tension. The 2022 is rich and textured without ever feeling heavy, the warmth of the vintage giving flesh to the mid-palate while the elevation keeps the acidity honest. This is a white for people who think serious southern French whites are an oxymoron. Roasted white stone fruit, herbs from the garrigue, and a saline, almost stony finish that lingers longer than you expect. Drink it now with something substantial, or give it another year or two and watch it find another gear.